Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service personnel and treatment records from his Reserve and National Guard service. The AOJ is required to contact these units for missing records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and posttraumatic stress disorder rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from February 8, 2012 to February 13, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus type II, a heart condition, a back condition, obstructive sleep apnea, headaches, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and unverified stressors.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a nexus between his current bilateral hearing loss and his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD and back disability, as well as TDIU, are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as her left and right shoulder disabilities. The claim for TMD is being remanded.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to insufficient development of evidence, including a need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran's inability to attend VA spine examinations, and requests for medical opinions regarding his thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to lack of compliance with Correia v. McDonald and incomplete examination findings.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected chronic lumbar strain is remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psychiatric disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left leg condition, right leg condition, and DDD of the lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected hallux valgus have been denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as service-connected due to its relationship with his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities. The right ankle and back disorders are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 17, 2015, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip condition, left knee condition, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hip condition have been reopened. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension (HTN) and chronic renal disease remains denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), tension headaches, recurrent tinnitus, and a lumbar spine disability has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and opinion regarding diabetes mellitus, hypertension, back disorder, neck disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and left shoulder disorder. Service connection is denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The appeal for the issue of sickle cell trait was dismissed. The appeals for low back disorder, pes planus, left ankle disorder, inguinal hernia, bilateral hearing loss, and sinusitis are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 9, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran was still employed at the time of his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to a back condition due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating of 70 percent effective June 26, 2019.,Service connection for hypertension is denied. The Veteran's new and material evidence has reopened the claim, but service connection remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected disabilities, including evaluations for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and limitations of motion and rotation of the right thigh.